ORDER ONLY: Private Message to Minerva McGonagall and Arthur Weasley

[alt_frank]

first off, the camping trip is going fine. no sign of magic from kevin, everyone’s getting on, and the change-off with kingsley and emmaline went off without a hitch.

neville told us something today.

I’m not good with words. but I can put down what he said, or near enough.

he said that he wants to know everything about what we do. he wants to ask us questions, and to have us be able to tell him the answers truthfully. he wants to talk to us. really talk to us. and then he wants us to obliviate him. because it’d be safest that way.

all he ever hears about are the rumours and the bad things, the things we’re accused of doing, and all we can ever tell him are that the bad things aren’t true, but there’s nothing to take their place. and so he’s left wondering and being afraid and worrying, and it’s keeping him up nights not knowing. he said it was eating away at him.

he's prepared to have us obliviate him, minerva.

you know we wouldn’t do something like this without checking in first. so this is me. checking in.

Comments

[alt_arthur]

My word, Frank. What a request.

How long has he been thinking about this?

Do you think it's a good idea--do you want to do it? And do you think you could handle the obliviate spell? Because it would have to be very carefully done.

[alt_arthur]

Oh, and is it just Neville who's asking? Is Evelyn aware that he was planning on asking this?

[alt_mcgonagall]

It is a delicate matter. The performance of the Memory Charm is, as you noted, of utmost importance—and while young Mr. Longbottom may be capable of making this choice for himself, I quite agree that Evelyn is not of an age where we can rightly expect her to make such a decision.

[alt_frank]

she doesn't know what he's asked.

and you're right. she isn't of an age yet. but he is.

[alt_frank]

it's not a matter of what we want, arthur.

it's a matter of what he needs. he's been thinking about it for a year now.

and alice is asking snape if he'd be willing.

[alt_arthur]

I'm sure Snape would be the best one to do it.

Such a thing never would have occurred to me. But it seems Neville's thought carefully through the security ramifications if he's suggesting it himself.

There is a slight risk, but if he's willing to bear it...I can't think of any harm it would do, if we're sure of the obliviate afterward. And with Severus doing it, we would be.

[alt_mcgonagall]

If he agrees, then. And if no-one tells Poppy before the actual event has already taken place. I shudder to think what she would say to me.

[alt_frank]

right.

[alt_arthur]

Yes, I concur, too, Frank.

[alt_frank]

he's said yes.

thank you.